Positive motion extendable and retractable strip actuator and/or support



|. MEYERSAHM ETAL. 3,444,835

NDABLE AND RETRACTABLE STRIP ACTUATOR AND /OR SUPPORT Filed Jan. 10, 1968 May 20, 1969 A.

POSITIVE MOTION EXTE Wv m United States Patent 3,444,835 POSITIVE MOTION EXTENDABLE AND RETRACT.

ABLE STRIP ACTUATOR AND/OR SUPPORT Alvin I. Meyersahm, 8805 SE. 39th, Mercer Island, Wash. 98040, and William F. Rehmke, 14915 28th SW., Seattle, Wash. 98166 Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,891 Int. Cl. B63h 9/08 U.S. Cl. 114-112 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An action strip is moved along a partially emcompassing guiding track by a powered transmission which positively engages portions of the action strip as portions move by the transmission. The end structure of the action strip is removably secured to whatever is to be moved positively on the track. Preferably, upon retraction, the action strip is coiled around an active storage drum after leaving the powered transmission. Where necessary, the active storage drum is also powered at selected speed ratios which match the roll up and take olf action strip speeds with the action strip speed occurring at the powered transmission. A preferred embodiment of this positive motion extendable and retractable action strip actuator and/or support is adapted to raise, hold, and lower sails on a sailboat.

Background of the invention There are many times and places where ropes and pulley blocks are utilized to raise, lower and otherwise move a load. One such place is aboard a sailing vessel, when getting underway, sailing or coming in. In smaller sailboats direct hand over hand movement of halyards which pass through pulleys is undertaken to raise jibs, genoas, main and other sails. In larger sailboats, pulleys, blocks, and halyards are used with hand cranked or power driven winches around which a halyard is wound on and 0E. Very young sailors and women on most sailboats find this task a difiicult one to undertake even where powered winches or capstans are available. Moreover, stronger sailors on larger sailing boats have their problems in hoisting sails, especially in heavy Weather.

Therefore, this invention, in its preferred embodiment, is directed to raising, holding and lowering sails thereby enhancing a crews control of a sailing vessel and increasing the number of eligible crew members who will be able to assist a skipper in following his instructions in adjusting sails. Although a preferred embodiment will be illustrated in conjunction with raising, holding, and lowering a main sail, handling of other sails in all other respects is conveniently undertaken. Moreover, the described and illustrated linear powered movement, holding, and positioning capabilities are adaptable to many other uses such as raising flags, signs and other loads.

Summary of invention By utilizing a powered transmission to drive and hold an action strip along its encompassing track, the action strip is conveniently utilized to lift, lower and hold a load such as a sail. A braking means assures that a load will be held as a designated location along the partial encompassing track. Then whenever the load is to be moved, the action strip supporting the load is changed in position positively because of the firm engagement of the lugs of the driven wheel with the action strip.

Although the preferred embodiment is illustrated in handling sails other purposes are readily achieved in handling other loads. Also the loads secured to the action 3,444,835 Patented May 20, 1969 "ice strip may be moved up inclines, horizontally, or in any direction where a track may be laid. Also loads could be moved along a curve provided the track and the action strip are controllably bent to follow the curve contour. In lieu of hand crank power, electrical and/ or fluid drive motors could be used to drive the powered transmission.

Drawing of preferred embodiment The preferred embodiment with respect to a sailboat installation is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with some portions removed and others indicated by dotted lines to illustrate the installation of a positive motion extendable and retractable action strip actuator and support secured to a sailboat mast and used to raise, hold and lower a sail (not shown);

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view based on FIGURE 1 indicating how the powered transmission engages portions of an action strip to move it up and down the mast along its guiding track and also indicating how the active storage drum may be powered by a belt driven by the powered transmission; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the powered transmission where it is mounted for engagement with portions of the action strip, indicating also the pawl locking mechanism which brakes the transmission until the pawl is pivoted free of the transmission, and indicating also the guard or divider which keeps any retracted portion of the action strip from recontacting the transmission avoiding any unwanted locking or jamming of the transmission.

Description of preferred embodiment In FIGURES 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment 10 of the invention is illustrated in use on a sailboat mast 12, the illustration commencing at a location below an underway sail boom position. From this lower mounting place a partial encompassing sail track 14 is extended up a mast 12 to a location just above an underway top sail position. This sail track 14 is secured by screw fasteners with hands (not shown) that are flush with the overall internal track surface.

An action strip 16 of flexible material which is sized to slide freely up and down its partial encompassing sail track 14 is provided in a length to fully match the sail track length and extend beyond for attachment to an active storage drum 20 or some other mechanism or structure to receive the action strip 16 for ready return in whole or in part when it is not being utilized along a sail track 14 to raise and to hold a sail (not shown) in place.

The uppermost portions of the action strip 16 are equipped with places of securement (not shown) to detachably receive the sail top and the lowest portions are secured to an active storage drum 20 of the powered transmission 26. Between these strip ends, centrally located, spaced holes 18 are provided to receive spaced lugs secured to a driven wheel 30 of the powered transmission 26 as the action strip 16 is powered up and down the track 14 along the mast 12.

The powered transmission 26 is preferably arranged within a housing 32 which is secured to the mast 12 below this sail boom position and above the deck or cabin top (not shown) within easy reach of a crew member assigned the task of raising and/or lowering a sail. The housing has a base 34 to complementary fit the mast 12 and be screwed 36 or bolted thereto. Extending out from the base 34 are spaced parallel flanges 38, 40 secured to the base by their won base portions 44, 44 which overlay in part the housing base 34 and are secured to the mast by 3 the same fasteners 36 used in mounting the housing base 34. At spaced locations these parallel flanges are held together with fasteners 42.

The driven wheel 30 which has spaced lugs 28 on its circumference to engage, drive, and hold the action strip 16, is rotatably mounted in bearings 46 which are installed in these respective parallel flanges 38, 40. The axle 48 of this driven wheel 30 extends to one side of the driven wheel within the housing 32 to receive a pulley wheel 50 and then extends through and beyond respective parallel flange 40 to be secured to a crank 52 and handle 54.

The crew member uses this handle 54 to turn the crank 52 and the driven wheel 30 and the resulting moving engagement of lugs 28 into and out of the spaced holes 18 of the action strip 16 moves the strip 16 and its supported sail (not shown) up and down the mast 12 and holds the sail in place when underway.

When the sail (not shown) is lowered, the temporarily no longer used portions of the action strip 16 must be stored. In this preferred embodiment, an active storage drum 20 is rotatably mounted in bearings 60 which are also installed in these respective parallel flanges 38, 40. The axle 62 of this active storage drum 20 extends to one side of drum 20 within the housing 32 to receive a pulley wheel 64. Between this pulley wheel 64 and that pulley wheel 50 secured to the driven wheel avle 48, a drive chain 66 is arranged. Then whenever a crew member turns the crank 52 of the powered transmission 26, a rotative torque is also being transmitted to the active storage drum 20 to reel in or play out the action strip 16, depending on the respective operational objective of lowering or raising a sail.

Accessories and other embodiments A separating and guiding shield 70 is positioned within housing 32 to prevent action strip 16 from unintendedly leaving storage drum 20 during coiling in loop form and reaching lugs 28 on driven wheel 26, thereby possibly causing an unintended locking of the powered transmission 26, A complete housing enclosure (not shown) is provided by the housing of another embodiment. Also motor power (not shown) is available in lieu of hand power.

A one way, releasable, ratchet pawl locking means 74 pivotally mounted on an axle 76 and secured between flanges 38 and 40 bears against a stop 78 to prevent release of a load, such as sail weight, being supported directly by action strip 16 and indirectly by the balance of the invention components. This ratchet pawl 74 is cleared by finger manipulation of its upward end 80. A Teflon guide 84 is used to support action strip 16 during its engagement with lugs 28 of driven wheel 30.

We claim as our invention:

1. A sail hoisting and positioning assembly for producing positive movement of sails, comprising:

(a) a sail track to be arranged up a mast where a sail is to be hoisted;

(b) an action strip slidably moved up and down the sail track adaptable for attachment to the top of a sail;

(c) an active storage means to receive portions of the action strip which is temporarily removed from the sail track when a sail is lowered; and

(d) a powered transmission to engage, hold and move the action strip as it is utilized in turn to move sails secured to its end along the sail.

2. A sail hoisting and positioning assembly for producing positive movement of sails, comprising:

(a) a partially encompassing sail track to be arranged up a mast where a sail is to be hoisted;

(b) an action strip slidably moved up and down the partially encompassing sail track adaptable for attachment to the top of a sail;

(c) an active storage means to receive portions of the action strip which is temporarily removed from the partially encompassing sail track when a sail is lowered;

(d) a powered transmission to engage, hold and move the action strip as it is utilized in turn to move sails secured to its end along the sail.

3 In combination with a sailboat, the sail hoisting and positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,588 11/1940 Williams 52121 2,233,222 2/1941 Paton 52110 0 TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner. 

